Dec.3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher needs to “improve a lot” before he is ready for Formula 1. That is the view of former driver and now German-language commentator Christian Danner. “Mick did a good first season in Formula 2 and has improved,” he told RTL. “But there are areas where he still has to improve a […]
Month: December 2019
Briatore unsure about Hamilton to Ferrari rumour
Dec.3 (GMM) Flavio Briatore is not getting carried away with rumours linking Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari for 2021. The former Renault boss told the Italian news agency Adnkronos that the six-time world champion is a “great driver”. “But I would wait a while, because perhaps Ferrari already has a driver of Hamilton’s worth,” said Briatore, […]
Wolff not ruling out another Kubica comeback
Dec.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica can become a “world champion in a different role”, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Wolff told the Polish broadcaster TVP that it is “a pity” the 2019 Williams driver will not be on the grid next year. “I was very happy when he returned to the world of Formula […]
Vettel jokes about Ferrari exit rumours
Dec.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has issued a smiling rebuke to rumours that he could be forced out of Ferrari. The German was asked about speculation that Lewis Hamilton could be heading to the Maranello team to become Charles Leclerc’s future teammate. “But Hamilton is already a Ferrari driver,” Vettel smiled. “I think he already has […]
Mercedes can stay in F1 ‘for many years’ – Wolff
Dec.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Mercedes can remain in Formula 1 “for many years”. Recently, new Daimler chairman Ola Kallenius appeared to indicate that Mercedes will stay on the grid for the sport’s new era beginning in 2021. But Wolff admitted that the German marque’s motorsport programme, which he heads, could be “reviewed in accordance […]
Wolff plays down new Ferrari switch rumour
Dec.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down a rumour that he might switch to Ferrari. Rumours that Lewis Hamilton could be heading to the Italian team for 2021 team are already rife, but it is also being whispered that Mercedes’ team boss might follow suit. “Ferrari is a great brand, but what I have done […]
Mercedes tests for Russell ‘not a trial’ – Wolff
Dec.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down the significance of a busy forthcoming period for Williams driver George Russell. Already part of the Mercedes development stable, Russell is set to drive the title-winning silver car in the post-race Abu Dhabi test this week. And then he will return a week later for Mercedes’ test of […]
Ferrari used ‘usual procedure’ amid fuel breach
Dec.2 (GMM) Mattia Binotto claims Ferrari did not mean to breach a technical rule in Abu Dhabi. Charles Leclerc’s podium remained under a cloud until almost four hours after the chequered flag, as suspicions about the legality of the Ferrari entered yet another phase. Prior to the race, the FIA discovered during a random check […]
Top drivers should stay put for 2021 – Horner
Dec.2 (GMM) The drivers at every top team should all keep their seats for 2021, according to Christian Horner. 2020 looks set to be a fascinating year for the ‘silly season’, with Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) all out of contract. “Everyone should stay with their same team for […]
‘No doubt’ Vettel will race in 2020 – Binotto
Dec.2 (GMM) As the long 2019 season came to its conclusion, Mattia Binotto rejected a rumour that swept the Abu Dhabi paddock on Sunday. Some were whispering that Sebastian Vettel might not return to Ferrari after the winter break. The quadruple world champion even admitted that 2019 was not a good season for him. “This […]
Sainz made ‘biggest ever step’ in 2019 – father
Dec.2 (GMM) 2019 was a “very big step” forward for Carlos Sainz. That is the view of his father, the rallying legend with the same name. He told EFE news agency that the McLaren driver might even be world champion material. “I am cautious about it, but I am convinced that Carlos has the talent […]
Vettel puzzled over F1’s DRS failure
Dec.2 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has criticised Formula 1 over the DRS failure in the 2019 season finale. For almost the first 20 laps in Abu Dhabi, the overtaking system was not enabled by race control. Race director Michael Masi said it was a failed server than needed to be rebooted. “It was a bit like […]
F1 return better than staying at home – Kubica
Dec.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica insists he does not regret returning to Formula 1 with a permanent arm injury in 2019. However, the 34-year-old Pole was outclassed by his rookie teammate George Russell all season at the woefully struggling Williams team. “The season has not taught me anything,” Kubica told the Polish broadcaster TVP. “I gained […]
Engineer ‘deserves’ McLaren job – Magnussen
Dec.2 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says Haas’ departing performance engineer Jose Manuel Lopez “deserves” a better job in Formula 1. It is believed Lopez is heading to McLaren, to replace Lando Norris’ departing engineer Andrew Jarvis. “He deserves it,” Haas driver Magnussen told Ekstra Bladet newspaper in Abu Dhabi. “He is an incredibly skilled engineer and […]
‘Too early’ to consider Hamilton for 2021 – Binotto
Dec.2 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says it is “far too early” to speculate about whether Lewis Hamilton will sign up with Ferrari for 2021. The Hamilton-to-Ferrari rumour was a hot topic in the Abu Dhabi paddock, and after winning the race the Mercedes driver didn’t even deny that he recently met with Ferrari chairman John Elkann. […]
Ferrari would be ‘stupid’ to cheat – Ecclestone
Dec.1 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has doubled down on his defence of Ferrari, after the Italian team was recently accused of “cheating”. Max Verstappen made the most explicit accusation, but what is undeniable is that Ferrari’s top speeds have dropped off in the wake of the FIA’s recent technical directives about engine legality. Indeed, former Mercedes […]
Alonso meets with Liberty officials in Abu Dhabi
Dec.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso appears to be stepping up his bid to return to Formula 1 in 2021. The Spaniard, who quit McLaren and F1 at the end of last year, is back in the paddock in Abu Dhabi. One observer even saw the 38-year-old, who will tackle the Dakar rally and the Indy 500 […]
Teams set to vote on 2020 Pirelli tyres
Dec.1 (GMM) F1 teams will vote on December 9 about whether to keep or scrap Pirelli’s proposed tyres for 2020. Drivers tested the 2020 tyres recently in Austin, and complained that not only are they not better than this year’s tyres, but that they are notably worse. So now, several teams want to simply keep […]
Renault needs more demanding driver like Ocon – boss
Dec.1 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul thinks signing up Esteban Ocon is the perfect move for Renault. The French team is making room for the current Mercedes reserve driver by ousting 32-year-old Nico Hulkenberg. 23-year-old Ocon’s 2020 teammate will therefore be Daniel Ricciardo, who is 30. “The drivers have this ability to put tremendous pressure on a […]
Ricciardo signing brought pressure to Renault – boss
Dec.1 (GMM) Team boss Cyril Abiteboul has admitted it was “difficult to manage” Daniel Ricciardo’s first season at Renault. Ricciardo’s move to the French works team from Red Bull was highly controversial, and then Renault struggled even to reach its goal of being ‘best of the rest’ in 2019. “A lot was said about his […]